Parents and staff urge Portland schools to protect counselors, ed‑techs and librarians amid budget shortfall
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Summary
Community members and staff told the board proposed budget cuts to counselors, ed‑techs and librarians would harm students; speakers urged delaying consolidation votes and prioritizing direct student supports over central‑office growth.
Portland — Dozens of parents, counselors and school staff urged Portland Public Schools on Feb. 24 to preserve student‑facing positions as the district prepares a budget that contends with a roughly $4.1 million reduction in state funding.
The public‑comment period featured repeated pleas to avoid cutting high‑school counselors, special‑education ed‑techs and library staff. "If we want our middle schoolers to be critical thinkers, safe digital citizens, and lifelong readers, we cannot treat the library as an optional extra," said Court Caywood, a part‑time librarian at King and Lyman Moore Middle Schools. Johanna Burton, a PPS counselor and staff member, said cutting 1–2 counselors ‘‘would mean 1 full time cut at Deering and 1 half time cut at my workplace, Portland High,’’ and warned those schools could not absorb the reductions without degrading services.
Union and staff voices: Carrie Dowdy of the Portland Education Association asked the board to delay a vote on a resolution directing study of middle‑school consolidation to allow more time for staff and community engagement. Jen Cooper, president of the EdTech Union, urged reinstatement of six ed‑tech positions (five special‑ed, one multilingual), citing a consultant report that recommended more support staff rather than eliminations.
Budget context from the superintendent: The superintendent previewed a March 10 presentation of the FY27 budget, which will account for a loss of about $4.1 million in state funding and declining enrollment. Board discussion acknowledged the tension between protecting student services and unavoidable tradeoffs caused by the funding swing.
What speakers requested: Commenters asked for (1) delays on consolidation votes until meaningful engagement occurs, (2) preservation or reinstatement of counseling and ed‑tech roles, (3) accurate enrollment and utilization numbers (several speakers disputed published figures), and (4) review of central‑office increases before cutting student supports.
Next steps: The superintendent will present a draft budget on March 10. Board members suggested targeted resolutions and policy steps may follow, and several asked staff to verify public figures about staffing changes and central‑office compensation before the budget vote.